节气 Solar Term (Jie Qi)
Understanding Solar Term: Time, Nature, and Health in Traditional Chinese Medicine
What Are the Solar Terms?
The 24 Solar Terms are a traditional East Asian timekeeping system that divides the year into twenty-four distinct periods, each lasting approximately fifteen days. Unlike lunar months, which follow the phases of the moon, the Solar Terms are based on the movement of the sun along the ecliptic, marking precise changes in seasonal energy.
Each Solar Term reflects a specific shift in climate, temperature, moisture, and light, capturing nature in motion rather than as a static season. This makes the system especially precise for understanding environmental influence on the human body.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), these subtle shifts are not abstract—they are biologically meaningful.
How the Solar Terms Are Named
Each Solar Term is named according to observable natural phenomena, not symbolic poetry alone. The names describe what is happening in the environment at that moment:
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Li Chun (Beginning of Spring) marks the initial stirring of growth beneath the surface.
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Xia Zhi (Summer Solstice) represents the peak of yang energy and daylight.
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Dong Zhi (Winter Solstice) signals the turning point where yin reaches its maximum and yang begins to return.
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Xiao Han (Minor Cold) and Da Han (Major Cold) describe increasing cold intensity rather than calendar dates.
This naming system reflects an empirical worldview: time is understood through nature’s behavior, not arbitrary dates. The Solar Terms function as a seasonal diagnostic tool.
Why Solar Terms Matter in Traditional Chinese Medicine
In TCM, the human body is not separate from nature. The Huangdi Neijing establishes this clearly:
“Humans correspond with Heaven and Earth.”
This foundational principle means that climatic changes influence physiological function, emotional states, and susceptibility to illness. The Solar Terms provide a framework for anticipating these changes rather than reacting to them after imbalance occurs.
Each term informs:
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How digestion responds to temperature and humidity
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How sleep and energy shift with daylight
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How emotions fluctuate with seasonal movement
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How the body should be nourished, rested, or activated
Rather than treating illness after it appears, TCM emphasizes timing and prevention.
Solar Terms and the Body’s Rhythms
The Solar Terms operate on the same logic as the 24-hour body clock, another key TCM concept. Just as each two-hour window corresponds to an organ system, each Solar Term corresponds to seasonal organ emphasis.
For example:
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Spring terms support liver function and upward movement
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Summer terms emphasize heart activity and circulation
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Autumn terms relate to lung function and dryness
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Winter terms focus on kidney storage and restoration
The Huangdi Neijing repeatedly emphasizes that health depends on acting in accordance with time. Ignoring seasonal rhythms leads to depletion; honoring them supports longevity.
Prevention Over Correction
One of the most important ideas in classical Chinese medicine is that the best physician treats illness before it arises. The Solar Terms make this possible by offering advance guidance.
For example:
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Eating lighter foods before heat peaks in summer
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Increasing warmth and nourishment before deep winter cold
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Adjusting sleep and activity before seasonal transitions occur
This approach shifts health from crisis management to long-term regulation.
Why the Solar Terms Are Still Relevant Today
Modern life often disconnects people from natural cycles—artificial lighting, climate control, irregular schedules, and constant stimulation flatten seasonal awareness. Yet the body still responds to time, temperature, and light.
The Solar Terms remain relevant because they:
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Restore awareness of biological timing
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Offer structure without rigidity
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Encourage adaptability instead of extremes
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Support sustainable health rather than quick fixes
When used thoughtfully, they provide a seasonal compass for daily decisions.
Living in Rhythm With Time
The Solar Terms are not rules to follow rigidly; they are signals to listen to. They invite observation, moderation, and timely adjustment.
Health, then, is not something we chase—it is something we return to, again and again, by aligning with rhythm.
.Way2Health • Seasonal Wisdom for Modern Living
| No. | Solar Term (English) | Pinyin | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beginning of Spring | Li Chun | Spring |
| 2 | Rain Water | Yu Shui | Spring |
| 3 | Insects Awaken | Jing Zhe | Spring |
| 4 | Spring Equinox (Spring Solstice) | Chun Fen | Spring |
| 5 | Pure Brightness | Qing Ming | Spring |
| 6 | Grain Rain | Gu Yu | Spring |
| 7 | Beginning of Summer | Li Xia | Summer |
| 8 | Lesser Fullness | Xiao Man | Summer |
| 9 | Grain in Ear | Mang Zhong | Summer |
| 10 | Summer Solstice | Xia Zhi | Summer |
| 11 | Minor Heat | Xiao Shu | Summer |
| 12 | Major Heat | Da Shu | Summer |
| 13 | Beginning of Autumn | Li Qiu | Autumn |
| 14 | End of Heat | Chu Shu | Autumn |
| 15 | White Dew | Bai Lu | Autumn |
| 16 | Autumn Equinox | Qiu Fen | Autumn |
| 17 | Cold Dew | Han Lu | Autumn |
| 18 | Frost’s Descent | Shuang Jiang | Autumn |
| 19 | Beginning of Winter | Li Dong | Winter |
| 20 | Minor Snow | Xiao Xue | Winter |
| 21 | Major Snow | Da Xue | Winter |
| 22 | Winter Solstice | Dong Zhi | Winter |
| 23 | Minor Cold | Xiao Han | Winter |
| 24 | Big Chill (Major Cold) | Da Han | Winter |